Foundation Garment with Improved Support

ABSTRACT

A foundation garment  10  is provided with breast cups  11 A, 11 B. Each breast cup  11 A, 11 B has a respective outer cup  111 A, 111 B and sling  12 A, 12 B located therewithin. The sling  12 A, 12 B is configured to provide uplift to the breast independently from the respective outer cup  111 A, 111 B, essentially in a cup-within-a-cup arrangement. The foundation garment can be used to improve cleavage enhancement by providing directional support to the breast along with the appearance of an increased breast size.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of our U.S. Ser. No.11/427,479, filed Jun. 29, 2006, abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of foundation garments, andin particular, to cleavage enhancing garments such as brassieres,undergarments and swimwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Herein the term foundation garment is intended to mean any garmentproviding breast support, e.g. undergarments such as brassieres (bras),including balcony type, plunge type, front fastening, midi bras,full-cup bras, underwired bras and bra slips; halterneck and multi-waybras, corsets including corselets and panty corselets; basques,bustiers, bodies, or the like and outergarments such as swimsuits,bikini bras, bodices or the like.

Cleavage enhancing undergarments or “push-up” bras are commonly used byfemales to enhance the look of the cleavage. This is generally achievedby providing “uplift” to raise the level of the breasts and/or byincluding additional padding or cushioning within the garment to give afuller shape to the breasts.

Within this type of garment, support for the bust is typically providedin the form of underwiring, which is fitted in the base of each cup ofthe bra and which provides support from underneath the breast. Anyuplift provided by the garment is generally brought about by the strapsof the brassiere which conventionally attach to the garment at the topouter edge of the cup and can be adjusted to pull the breast upwards.

The appearance of a fuller bust is typically achieved by the inclusionof padded inserts inside the cups of the garment. Such garments are wellknown.

However, these known “push-up” bras suffer from a number of problemsincluding, for example, the weight of the padding, comfort, reliability,and, crucially, the “overspill” effect which can result from the wearingof such garments and which gives rise to an unsightly and bulgingappearance.

Conventional uplift bras are provided with underwiring which givessupport to the breast along with straps, which pull the breast fromabove, in order to give an uplift effect. Padding, when provided, isusually in the form of foam inserts fitted within the cups, althoughalternative forms of padding such as gel, fluid or air-filled pouchesare known. This padding is provided within the cup in a permanent orremovable fashion and the breast essentially sits on padding and israised accordingly.

An inherent problem with the use of such uplift bras is that they tendto cause compression of the breast at the top edge of the bra cup. Thisarises from the pressure that is exerted by the bra at the base of thecup and the padding which tends to sit against the breast, causingcompression of the flesh. The straps of the garment, which are typicallyattached to the cup at a top outside edge, exert a further pressure onthe breast. These forces combine to push the breast up from the bottom,without any further support from the cup, which can cause the breast tospill over the top edge of the bra cup. This results in an unsightlyappearance with the breasts bulging over the top of the bra.

In certain garments, which are targeted primarily at women with largerbust sizes it is known to provide elements of additional support toaccount for the size and weight of the breasts. One known form ofadditional support uses a web inside the cups in addition to theunderwiring. In these garments, the inner web is typically the same sizeto the outer cup and is contoured and attached to the inner conformationof the cup. In such a garment the internal sling provides additionalsupport to the breast in a similar fashion to that provided byunderwiring i.e. by supporting the breasts at their natural height, anddoes not provide any uplift or pushing together of the breasts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention identifies the drawbacks of conventional cleavageenhancing garments and proposes a cleavage enhancing garment whichmitigates one or more of the limitations previously addressed.

The aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from readingthe following description.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda foundation garment having two breast cups, each breast cup having anouter cup and an additional breast uplifting means located therewithin,where said additional breast uplifting means is configured to provideuplift to the breast independently to the outer cup.

Essentially, the breast uplifting means is in the form of a sling.Preferably the sling is of a size substantially smaller to the outercup.

As the sling is undersized in comparison to the outer cup, the breast issupported and lifted within the breast cup such that the breast exertspressure on the upper edge of the outer cup giving particularly goodcleavage and shape.

Preferably the outer cup is moulded to the shape of a breast.Advantageously this ensures that in use, whilst the breast upliftingmeans provides uplift to the breast, the majority of the breast is heldwithin the breast cup to provide a smooth silhouette.

Preferably, the breast uplifting means is formed of a fabric with littleor no elasticity. This is commonly termed a rigid material or fabricwithin the clothing manufacture field. Use of this type of materialensures the breast support means provides adequate support withoutsagging under the weight of the breast.

More preferably the breast uplifting means is formed of rigid wovensatin.

Even more preferably, the rigid woven satin fabric is cut on the bias asthis cut allows the breast uplifting means to yield very slightly underthe weight of a breast while still providing adequate support.

Preferably, the breast uplifting means is attached to the breast cupalong the lower inside edge of the outer cup and at an additional pointat the apex of the outer cup. This attachment is such that the angle ofthe breast uplifting means provides directional support for the breastdirecting the breast both upward and inward due to the resulting angleof the breast uplifting means.

Optionally the breast uplifting means is attached continuously along thelower and side edge of the outer cup from the bottom to the apex of thebreast cup.

Preferably, the outer cup extends beyond the breast uplifting means togive the appearance of a fuller breast.

Preferably the inner surface of the outer cup and outer surface of thebreast uplifting means define a cavity space.

Optionally the foundation garment comprises non-supportive paddingwithin the cavity between the outer cup and the breast uplifting means.

The non-supportive padding does not provide any uplift or directionalsupport to the breast however it prevents the breast cup from deformingby preventing the outer cup from being pushed inwards towards the breastuplifting means if external pressure is supplied.

Optionally, the padding inserts are integrally formed with the outercup.

Optionally the padding inserts may be removable.

The padding inserts may be formed of foam or a gel.

Optionally, the padding inserts may comprise a fluid or air-filled bag.

Preferably, the outer cups are seam free, that is, have no seam on anouter surface thereof.

Optionally the foundation garment is provided with strap means.

The strap means may comprise two shoulder straps which are provided in aconventional manner or one strap which circumvents the neck in a halterstyle.

Optionally the strap means comprise two straps which are adjustable withrespect to the garment such that they can be adapted in a multi-waymanner.

In one embodiment the garment is an undergarment. In another embodimentthe cleavage enhancing garment is an outer garment, for example aswimming costume or a bikini brassiere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of the foundation garmentaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective back view of the foundation garment of FIG. 1showing the inside of the breast cups; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective upper side view of the foundation garment ofFIG. 2 as seen along the lines 3-3; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cup of the foundation garment of FIG. 2as seen along the lines 4-4; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the foundation garment of FIG. 2 as seenalong the lines 5-5 wherein the padding insert is removable; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the foundation garment of FIG. 5 as configured inuse to uplift the breast and conceal the overspill behind the greaterextent of the larger outer cup, and also showing an alternate embodimentwherein the padding is integral within the outer breast cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a foundation garment generallydepicted at 10. The garment comprises a pair of laterally positionedbreast cups, 11A and 11B. The garment further comprises a back strap 15,and shoulder straps 16 as are conventional. The outer appearance istherefore that of a standard brassiere.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that each of the cups 11A and11B is made up of an outer cup 111A and 111B and a breast sling 12A and12B. Each breast sling 12A, 12B is positioned within one of therespective outer cups 111A, 111B. The breast slings 12A, 12B are of asmaller size of coverage area relative to outer cups 111A, 111B suchthat they are wholly contained within and covered by outer cups 111A and111B, and are neither visible in use, nor extend as far as the outer cup111A, 111B, as is clearly visible in the Figures. The breast slings 12A,12B provide a smaller support area in comparison to outer cups 111A and111B and it is in these smaller breast slings 12A and 12B that thebreast sits in use. Essentially the sling acts as a cup within a cup,where the majority of the breast support is by the inner sling 12A, 12B,as opposed to the outer cup 111A, 111B.

In the depicted embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the two breast cups 11A,11B are joined by a central front bar 13 which serves to separate thebreasts. However, it will be appreciated that the breast cups 11A, 11Bcan be integrally joined together or linked by alternative means such aszippers, ties or fasteners.

In the preferred embodiments seen in FIGS. 3-6, an underwire 14 isprovided at the base of each of the breast cups 11A, 11B. Each breastsling 12A, 12B is attached to the respective outer cup 111A, 111B alongthe lower edge of the outer cup 111A, 111B and at an additional point 20at the apex of the cup in the proximity of the point of attachment ofthe strap means 16. In the depicted embodiments the means of attachmentof the breast sling 12A, 12B to the outer cup 111A, 111B is stitching18, as best seen in FIG. 1, which is provided continuously along theedges of the outer cup 111A, 111B from the bottom edge to the apex.However, it will be appreciated that it is not necessary for attachmentto be provided continuously along this length. In the depicted andpreferred embodiment the attachment means is double stitching whichconfers an additional level of security to the garment although singlestitching or alternative means of attachment may be used.

As is most clearly depicted in FIGS. 3-5, each of the breast slings 12A,12B is positioned between the outer cup 111A, 111B and the underwire 14.The positioning of each of the breast slings 12A, 12B between the outercup 111A, 111B and the underwire 14 provides a higher level of securityto hold the breast sling 12A, 12B in position although it is notessential to the working of the invention.

The breast slings 12A, 12B are formed of a material with a low level ofelasticity, typically termed a “rigid material” in the field of clothingmanufacture, which in the depicted embodiment is a rigid woven satin. Inthis embodiment, the fabric has been cut on the bias, as is clearlyevident in FIG. 2. Bias cut fabric is utilised as, although the materialhas little or no natural elasticity, this cut allows the fabric to yieldslightly under the weight of the breast, thus increasing the level ofcomfort to the wearer. The fabric employed for the construction of thesling must be rigid enough to support the breast without relying on anyadditional support from a padding insert.

The top inner edge 112 of the breast sling 12, which is an open edge, isfolded over itself in the embodiments seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 to give asmooth edge both to provide improved comfort and appearance.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cup of the embodiment of FIG. 2 showingthe free edge 112 of the sling spaced away from the outer cup which isformed of an outer fabric layer 111′ and an inner fabric layer 111″. Thespace between the sling at the upper edge 112 and the inner fabric layer111″ defines a cavity 17. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the outer cup 111includes a padding insert 17A to help maintain the shape and appearanceof the outer cup 111, especially where the breast is supported by thesling 12 and the outer cup portion, which is nonsupportive of thebreast, might otherwise easily compress.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the foundation garment of FIG. 2 showingthe elevation of the foundation garment. The sling 12 is shown as adouble fabric layer that is folded over at the free edge 112. In thisembodiment the outer cup also includes inner and outer fabric layers111′, 111″ which are doubled together and the padding insert 17B isremoveably disposed in the cavity space 17.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, a padding insert 17B isprovided in the space between each outer cup 111 and inner breast sling12.

FIG. 6 is a similar view of the FIG. 5 shown in use to support the lowerportion of the breast B against the inner sling 12 and to conceal thebulge S above the free edge 112 of the sling 12 behind the outer cup111. In this embodiment, the sling 12 may support the breast B below thenipple and angle upwardly from the point of attachment from the loweredge adjacent the front bar 13 to the point 20 at the apex (see FIG. 2),serving to lift the breast upward and inward to enhance the appearanceof the cleavage.

The tension in the breast sling 12 can compress the breasts and form abulge or overspill S just above the top edge 112 of the sling 12, whichis thus disposed above the cavity space 17 where any otherwise visibleoverspill S is concealed by the relatively larger inner surface area ofthe outer cup 111 that extends above the upper edge 112 of the sling 12.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6, the padding insert 17B isa foam, which is integrally moulded with the outer cup 111, betweenouter fabric layer 111′ and inner fabric layer 111″. Optionally, anyother known padding material such as gel, fluid or air filled pouchescan be used to form the padding insert in either embodiment of FIGS. 4and 6 or of FIG. 5. The padding inserts 17A, 17B are non-supporting asall of the requisite support for the breast will be provided by thebreast slings 12A, 12B. This prevents a situation where the padding ispushing the breast upwards from a single point resulting in unsightlyoverspill. As the breast will be cradled within a breast sling 12A, 12Bwhich will lift the breast up within the breast cup 11A, 11B this willgive a more natural cleavage and shape. Additionally, it is notessential that the padding insert is integral with the outer breastcups. The padding insert can be provided as a removable pouch which canbe inserted in the space 17 between the breast slings 12A, 12B and theouter cups 111A, 111B as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 or alternatively can beprovided integral with the breast slings 12A, 12B as seen in FIG. 5. Thespace between the breast slings 12A, 12B and the outer cups 111A, 111Bserves to create the appearance of a fuller bust, and, as such, apadding insert is not essential to maintain the appearance of a fullerbust. However, an advantage of incorporating a padding insert is that itcan prevent compression of the cups 11 a, 11B under external forces,e.g. to avoid deflation of the space between the outer cup 111A, 111Band the breast slings 12A, 12B, for example by compression due to tightclothing.

In the preferred and depicted embodiment in FIG. 2, the angle of theupper edges 112A, 112B of the breast slings 12A, 12B, with respect tohorizontal, i.e. sloped upward and outward, serves to provide bothupward and inward directional support to the breast. In alternativeembodiments, however, the breast slings 12A, 12B could be angled toprovide a different type of support, e.g. to provide more uplift andless inward directional support.

As full support is provided to the breast by the breast slings 12A, 12B,there will advantageously be less pull on the breast from the weight ofthe padding insert.

Additionally, as the breast sling provides support directly to thebreast, the reliability of the garment is increased and the risk thatthe breasts of the wearer would become dislodged from the garment, forexample when leaning forward, is decreased.

It will be evident that various modifications and improvements could bemade to the above-described garment within the scope of the invention.For example, the above description is written in the context of push upbrassiere, however it could equally apply to another style wherein theinward directional breast support is reduced relative to the upwardbreast support, as controlled by the angle of the breast slings withinthe outer breast cups.

The present invention in one of its aspects provides an improvedcleavage enhancing garment which provides directional support to thebreast along with the appearance of an increased breast size, whichovercomes some of the limitations previously addressed.

As the uplift is provided by the breast sling, more directional supportcan be provided to the breast for example by attaching the breast slingat a point within the outer cup at the upper outside edge.Advantageously, this results in a more contoured appearance to the bust,and decreases the appearance of unsightly bulges which can arise fromconventional cleavage enhancing garments.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention herein intended.

1. An article of apparel provided with breast cups, each breast cuphaving an outer cup and a sling located therewithin, where said sling isconfigured to provide directional uplift to the breast independentlyfrom the outer cup, wherein the sling is of a size substantially smallerthan the outer cup to decrease appearance of bulges.
 2. An article ofapparel as in claim 1 wherein the sling has an inner surface areasubstantially smaller than the outer cup.
 3. An article of apparel as inclaim 1 wherein the outer cup is moulded to the shape of a breast.
 4. Anarticle of apparel as in claim 1 wherein the sling is formed of a fabricwith little or no elasticity.
 5. An article of apparel as in claim 1wherein the sling is attached to the breast cup along the lower insideedge of the outer cup and at an additional point at the apex of theouter cup.
 6. An article of apparel as in claim 1 wherein the sling isattached continuously along the lower and side edge of the outer cupfrom the bottom to the apex of the breast cup.
 7. An article of apparelas in claim 1 wherein the outer cup extends beyond the sling to give theappearance of a fuller breast.
 8. An article of apparel as in claim 1wherein the inner surface of the outer cup and outer surface of thesling define a cavity space.
 9. An article of apparel as in claim 8wherein the foundation garment comprises non-supportive padding withinthe cavity between the outer cup and the sling.
 10. An article ofapparel as in claim 9 wherein the padding is integrally formed with theouter cup.
 11. An article of apparel as in claim 9 wherein the paddingis removable.
 12. An article of apparel as in claim 9 wherein thepadding is formed of a foam, gel or a fluid or air-filled bag.
 13. Anarticle of apparel as in claim 1 wherein the sling comprises an open topinner edge having one end attached adjacent an apex of the outer cup andanother end of the top edge attached at a lower edge of the outer cup.14. An article of apparel as in claim 1 wherein the foundation garmentcomprises an underwire at a base of the outer breast cup.
 15. An articleof apparel provided with breast cups, each breast cup having an outercup and a sling located therewithin, wherein a non-supportive cavityspace is provided between the outer cup and the sling, and said slingprovides directional uplift to the breast independently from the outercup, wherein the sling has a substantially smaller inner surface areathan the inner surface area of the outer cup to provide the appearanceof an enhanced cleavage and decrease appearance of bulges.
 16. Anarticle of apparel as in claim 15 wherein the foundation garmentcomprises padding within the cavity to maintain the shape of the outercup.
 17. An article of apparel as in claim 15 wherein the foundationgarment comprises an underwire at a base of the outer breast cup.
 18. Anarticle of apparel provided with breast cups worn over the breasts, eachbreast cup having an outer cup and a sling located therewithin, whereinthe sling comprises a free upper edge having one end attached adjacentan apex of the outer cup and another end attached at a lower edge of theouter cup, wherein the sling provides directional uplift to the breast,wherein the outer cup extends beyond the upper edge of the sling toconceal any bulge in the breast formed adjacent the sling.
 19. Anarticle of apparel as in claim 18 wherein the foundation garmentcomprises padding underneath the outer cup to maintain the shape of theouter cup.
 20. An article of apparel as in claim 18 wherein thefoundation garment comprises an underwire at a base of the outer cup.